Urine Formation in Mammalian Body
Urine formation is a complex process that takes place in the kidneys and involves the filtration of blood, reabsorption of essential substances, and secretion of waste products. It can be divided into three main steps:
1. Glomerular Filtration:
- Blood is forced into the glomerulus, which is a tuft of capillaries located in the renal corpuscle of each nephron (the functional unit of the kidney).
- The glomerular membrane is semipermeable, allowing water, small molecules (such as glucose, amino acids, and salts), and waste products (such as urea and creatinine) to pass through into the Bowman's capsule.
- Larger molecules, such as proteins and blood cells, remain in the bloodstream.
2. Tubular Reabsorption:
- The filtrate from the glomerulus enters the proximal tubule of the nephron.
- Essential substances are reabsorbed from the filtrate back into the bloodstream through active and passive transport.
- These substances include glucose, amino acids, vitamins, sodium, potassium, and other ions.
- Water is also reabsorbed along with the solutes.
3. Tubular Secretion:
- Waste products, such as hydrogen ions, potassium ions, and ammonia, are secreted from the bloodstream into the filtrate by active transport in the proximal and distal tubules.
- These substances help regulate blood pH and electrolyte balance.
Loop of Henle and Collecting Duct:
- The filtrate then enters the loop of Henle, a U-shaped structure that descends into the medulla and ascends back up.
- The descending limb of the loop is impermeable to water but permeable to salts. As the filtrate moves down, water is reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
- The ascending limb is impermeable to salts but permeable to water. As the filtrate moves up, water is reabsorbed and salts are concentrated.
- The collecting duct adjusts the concentration of the filtrate by reabsorbing or secreting water and ions, depending on the body's needs.
- The final urine, which is concentrated in waste products and low in water, is excreted from the body through the ureters and bladder.